Just like us, pets are at risk of food poisoning.
If you’re a pet owner, you probably treat your furry friend like a family member. And the last thing you’d want is for your pet to suffer from a foodborne illness.
With our top tips for safe handling of pet food, you can take steps to minimize risk and keep your pet healthy:
And, of course, stay abreast of pet food recalls. If your pet’s food has been recalled, take quick action to discard all of it — from your pet’s food bowls and your supply.
You can monitor and sign up to receive pet food recalls and withdrawals here: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Symptoms You Should Watch For
When a dog or cat does fall ill with a foodborne illness, they usually have these symptoms:
Sometimes, though, pets are carriers without showing symptoms. They shed the pathogen in their stools or harbor it in their saliva or on their fur.
And that’s why it’s important to remember you can become sick from tainted pet food, too.
Humans are at risk when they handle contaminated pet food or have contact with an infected animal. The best way to protect yourself? Diligent, thorough hand washing after touching pets, serving pet food, or handling pet waste.
Click here for symptoms of foodborne illness in humans
What to Do If You or Your Pet is Sick
If you become sick and suspect food poisoning is the cause, seek immediate medical attention.
If your cat or dog is showing symptoms of a foodborne illness, call your veterinarian right away for immediate examination and treatment.
Click here for more tips on what to do if you think you’re sick
What About Statistics?
Statistically speaking, we don’t have an accurate idea as to how many pets get sick from contaminated pet food each year. It simply isn’t monitored.
But, the AVMA has offered these statistics to shed some light on how many of our furry friends suffer each year (based on 2012 numbers):
Has Your Pet Suffered a Foodborne Illness?
If so, we’d appreciate you sharing your story with us.
Stories help our supporters learn best. Your personal experience could be just the thing someone else needs to provide insight, offer comfort, and inspire positive action. Please reach out to Stanley Rutledge, Director of Constituent Services, at srutledge@stopfoodborneillness.org to share your story.
As the voice of people affected by foodborne illness, we collaborate with partners in academia, the food industry, and government to prevent foodborne illness. We advocate for effective food safety policy and facilitate culture change to increase food safety.
Stop Foodborne Illness is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.
